Thin-Layer Chromatography Is a Method That Can Be Used to Separate

question 4

Multiple Choice

Thin-layer chromatography is a method that can be used to separate molecules by their polarity. A mixture of molecules in a nonpolar liquid (the mobile phase) is added to the bottom of a piece of adsorbent material (the stationary phase) and allowed to migrate up the material. More-polar molecules interact more strongly with the stationary phase and thus migrate less. Less-polar molecules interact less strongly with the stationary phase and thus migrate more. Below are sample data for four different molecules from a thin-layer chromatography experiment. [Art: custom PowerPoint figure created by the author]
-Below are the structures of two molecules: ethanol and cyclohexane. Which would migrate farther in a thin-layer chromatography experiment? [Art: modified from Wikipedia images of the structures]

• A) Cyclohexane would migrate farther.
• B) Ethanol would migrate farther.
• C) Cyclohexane and ethanol would migrate equal distances.

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